If you enjoy creating personalized pieces, a monogramming or embroidering machine can allow you to add designs to any fabric item. These machines help you to create your own designs to create unique, one of a kind pieces that will wow your family and friends.

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Our research team has reviewed over 30 sewing machines to see how they operate. We’ve compiled our list of top picks and our editor’s choice, the Brother LB5000M Marvel Edition offers fantastic features with a modest price tag. However, we’ve also ranked other machines at different price points to ensure that there is a top pick for everyone.

Top 5 Sewing Machines for Monogramming Review 2020

Our team of researchers deliberated for hours to find the best sewing machine for monogramming. We’ve looked at the functionality and performance of each machine including the number of fonts and designs offered. We’ve also looked at the stitch length, sewing speed, needles and other features that impact the usability for beginners and more experienced users. We’ve presented these findings in a simple overview table and a list of detailed reviews. But we’ve also included a buying guide to assist you in making your final purchase decision.

The Brother LB5000M Marvel Edition may be the best computerized sewing machine for monogramming and sewing denim on our list. This is our editor’s choice because it’s a feature packed 2-in-1 sewing and embroidering machine with a color LCD touchscreen display to preview your edits before you even begin stitching. The embroidery design editing features are impressive, you can change the thread colors, move designs on the screen and place the lettering in arc with a simple touch of your finger.

The LB5000M Marvel Edition features 80 built-in embroidery designs and you can easily import more designs with the USB port. This machine features needle up/down variable speed control and a drop feed function to make creative free motion sewing easier. There are 103 built-in stitches to select and the expanded workspace is great for larger and bulkier projects. There are 7 quick change sewing feet, they are: spring action zigzag, zipper, blind stitch, buttonhole, button sewing, overcasting and monogramming. As it’s the Marvel edition, this machine has a Marvel Superheroes Design Pack code to get 10 fun designs from ibroidery.com.

Pros

One user mentioned that this machine is easy to use and thread making it an ideal choice for a novice sewer and monogrammer.

The touchscreen is a little intimidating at first but it’s intuitive and easy to use.

This machine offers a lot for a modest price tag.

Cons

One buyer found the machine to be underpowered for very heavy fabrics.

The Brother SE1900 is a well-regarded embroidery sewing machine, it’s our premium pick because it’s a great upgrade path from the fantastic SE400 model. The may be the best Brother sewing machine for monogramming with features, such as: 240 sewing stitches, 10 buttonhole styles, 11 lettering fonts and 138 built-in embroidery designs. If that’s not enough you can even design your very own unique stitches right on the machine. The memory locations on the machine allow the user to import embroidery designs purchased from third party suppliers. The imported designs are transferred using a standard USB memory stick using the built-in USB port.

The Brother SE1900 has a generous 5” by 7” embroidery field to create larger designs. The automatic threading and LCD touchscreen make this an easy machine to use but it can be used for complex embroidery projects. This would be an excellent machine for a more advanced user interested in starting their own business or at home. An included CD contains some handy designs but some of them are a little outdated.

Pros

The ability to design your own stitches can open up a whole new world of creativity.

One user that owns several different types of sewing machines stated that “this one is the most useful of all”.

The SINGER Quantum Stylist 9960 is one of the best computerized machines available today, it’s packed with useful features and very versatile. This machine has a shallow learning curve, it’s easy to use and it can handle your embroidery and monogramming tasks. The automatic thread cutter is a welcome addition and you can thread the machine in a shade under 6 seconds with practice. Singer has included 960 built-in stitches, 13 buttonhole styles and 5 monogramming fonts with variable speeds to match your skill level.

The SINGER Quantum Stylist 9960 has a clear cover so you can visually monitor the bobbing without leaving your seat. This machine has a drop in bobbin system making it simple and efficient to use daily. The lengths and widths of the stitches can be adjusted with the automatic stitch adjustment feature. There is a needle up/down button that allows you to sew without worrying about the exact needle positions. Overall this is a solid machine for monogramming, the 5 included fonts are useful, but there are better options on our list at this price point.

Pros

Many users are very impressed with the sheer number of stitches on this machine.

This machine is easy to use and it can deliver impressive results.

Cons

A lack of buttonhole options may deter some users that want a multi-purpose 2-in-1 sewing and embroidery machine.

The Brother PE535 is an affordable machine that offers a lot of functionality. This machine is equipped with a 3.2” LCD color touchscreen that shows you the design before you make a single stitch. The PE535 is quick, it can make 400 stitches per minute and you can use the built-in color palette feature to change or select the color threads before you begin. The machine’s memory includes 80 embroidery designs, including: floral, borders, holidays and kids styles.

The Brother PE535 may be the best sewing machine for monogramming large font projects. This machine has 9 different fonts to choose from and you can select small, medium and large sizes as needed. There are also symbols and numbers and you can select lower and upper case letters. But, only 6 of the fonts are in English and the remainder and in Japanese. The fonts can be edited to suit your project, they can be aligned as text in angles or curves and you can place text on seperate lines. The spaces between lines of text can be adjusted and you can add more designs using the built-in USB port.

Pros

Many buyers have mentioned that this machine is easy to use.

This is a great machine for beginners, it includes an instructional DVD, a written user manual and access to Disney, Marvel and Pixar designs on iBroidery.

Cons

Some users lamented that this was not a 2-in-1 machine because it’s designed to be used for embroidery and monogramming.

The Brother DZ3000 is our best value pick, it’s one of the best sewing machines on the market at the moment and it offers outstanding value for money. This is a computerized sewing and quilting machine that offers decent monogramming features for those starting out. The DZ3000 comes with 240 built-in stitches, 110 of these are alphanumeric stitches and there are 8 different 1 step buttonholes to round out the stitch library. A handy LCD display can zoom in by 50% to view the stitches at twice their normal size.

This is a great machine because it’s versatile, it can deliver great results and it can really spark your creativity. The Brother DZ3000 could even be used by a professional starting a home business. The extensive range of alphanumeric stitches at this price point make this a natural machine for someone that wants to try out monogramming. The DZ3000 is a great machine for users of any skill level, but the needle threader can take some getting used to and some users dislike this feature. The machine feels sturdy and as a Brother sewing machine you can count on the reliability.

Pros

Many users like this machine because it’s easy to use and it comes with a lot of accessories.

This machine is small and light making it ideal for users that need portability.

Cons

One user reported that the self needle threaders are tricky to use.

Buying Guide

The best computerized sewing machine for monogramming and sewing denim will have a large number of built-in stitches. The exact number will vary a great deal, but every machine will have basic zigzag and decorative stitches covered. When you’re shopping for an embroidery and monogramming machine check the included stitches. It’s also a great idea to get a machine that can adjust the length and width of the stitches. Check the maximum stitch length and width to ensure that the machine can handle your projects.

What is a monogramming machine?

If you’re new to sewing you may be wondering what an embroidery or monogramming machine is and how it works. As you probably already know, there are different types of sewing machine functions, some machines can fulfil multiple roles and others are more specialized. An embroidery machine in many ways is similar to a sewing machine but it mimics the actions of hand embroidery to create very detailed quilting stitches.

Traditionally, embroidery was highly regarded as a decorative stitching technique using multiple stitch patterns, types and colors. This technique is ideal if you want to create intricate designs or a nice image but it can also handle letters and numbers too. There are elaborate machines that can act as a sewing machine and a quilting machine. But, if someone isn’t interested in embroidery they will not pay for features that they don’t need. This is why we have seen manufacturers make dedicated quilting machines that are capable of embroidery and monogramming.

Monogramming is fun, the best Brother sewing machine for monogramming is fantastic for creative projects such as personalized handkerchiefs, scarves and towels. If you really catch the monogramming bug you will find yourself coming up with all kinds of ideas for personalized items for your family or to give as gifts.

Features to consider when choosing a sewing machine for monogramming

With so many sewing machines on the market, it can be challenging to find the best one for your needs. So, here we’ll explore some of the most important features to consider before you make a final purchase decision.

Max. sewing speed

Many modern sewing machines allow the user to slow down or speed up the sewing process as needed. A good speed setting will control how fast the fabric passes under the needle and to maintain a consistent speed when required. A good example would be sewing along a straight edge.

The speed is often controlled by a foot pedal but the best models may allow the user to control the speed on the machine instead.

Number of built-in stitches

The best computerized sewing machine for monogramming and sewing denim will have a large number of built-in stitches. The exact number will vary a great deal, but every machine will have basic zigzag and decorative stitches covered. When you’re shopping for an embroidery and monogramming machine check the included stitches. It’s also a great idea to get a machine that can adjust the length and width of the stitches. Check the maximum stitch length and width to ensure that the machine can handle your projects.

Number of designs and fonts

If you have more designs and fonts on your machine it will offer greater flexibility for your future projects. If you need the best sewing machine for monogramming large font you will need to look at the features closely. Many embroidery machines have a number of in-built features to help the user get the best results. The best modern machines such as the Brother SE1900 have a built-in USB port that allows you to add more designs later.

Number of buttonholes

The number of available buttonholes is important for many people that want a sewing machine that can also offer embroidery functions. This would allow you to sew in a buttonhole in a single step without stopping the machine or touching another control. There are machines available that allow the user to insert the button in a slot and then the machine sews an appropriately sized buttonhole automatically.

Embroidery area

There are machines with larger hoops that are great if you want to make larger designs but they don’t stabilize any smaller fabric pieces. A different machine might be a better option for smaller designs but they may not accommodate larger projects. So, it’s important to pay close attention to the specifications of the machine to make sure it can handle the designs you want to use. A better quality machine may have a multi-hoop feature that can finish both smaller and larger designs in equal high quality. This is great for the user because they can switch from smaller to larger projects without enduring delays and wasting their time. The best machines like the Brother LB5000M Marvel Edition allow the user to edit the built-in designs and patterns efficiently. The designs, fonts and patterns can be customized to suit virtually any project.

Needle threader

Threading any type of sewing machine used to be a huge drawback for many users. This can be a tricky process requiring a great deal of hand to eye coordination and this placed sewing at home beyond many potential users. The best modern computerized sewing machines like the Brother DZ3000 have a self-threading feature known as a needle threader. This system can feed the sewing machine quickly to limit the time downtime and keep the project moving along quickly.

Feed dogs

Certain embroidery and quilting machines have a tooth mechanism that allows the user to drop the needle under the fabric. This means that the user can carry out free-style embroidery and even darning with ease.

Bobbin

Older sewing machines had a bobbin that was located inside a recessed compartment that was hard for some users to reach. Threading this bobbin was a difficult process and the time taken to deal with this vital part of the machine could sap creativity. The bobbins on modern machines are far more accessible and easier to deal with. The best machines have a panel that you slide open and then you simply drop the bobbin into the machine. Other models such as the SINGER Quantum Stylist 9960 have a clear cover so that you can see the bobbing working in the machine. This allows the user to notice when the thread is getting low and take appropriate action.

Free arm

The usual sewing machine base is designed to provide a wide working surface for medium to large projects such as quilts.

A free arm is very different, it’s a narrower working surface with a handy space located underneath so it will not hit any table that it is sitting upon.

If you’re sewing fabric on the wider sewing machine base you will find that it’s ideal for straight edges and general sewing tasks. But, if you’re working on any tubes of fabric such as pant legs and shirt sleeves you need the free arm feature. Simply slip the tube of fabric onto the free arm to avoid bunching and this will prevent sewing through multiple layers of fabric accidently.

Ease of use

The last thing that you need when you feel creative is an embroidery machine that has bad controls and ergonomics. It’s important to have a machine that is easy to use with plenty of functionality that can grow with you as your skills develop. The machine must be responsive to any pressure placed upon the foot pedal without growling and stalling. The fabric needs to move under control and it should be easy to change the thread as needed. If you want to work with thicker or heavier fabrics you will need a machine that’s heavier duty. Every control needs to be within reach for better control and the layout should be ergonomic. Many modern machines have a bright LED color touchscreen display that provides valuable feedback. This is a great place to preview stitches and the screen needs to be easy to read and responsive.

Warranty

With any purchase the old adage of “you get what you pay for” is probably true. However, you can get a great embroidery and monogramming machine for a modest price in the current market. Manufacturers such as Brother and Singer are leading the way and this is why we’ve included their best machines on our list. Ideally, you should test out a sewing machine in person, but this is not possible in many cases and so we must rely on informed reviews such as this one. So, it is very important that the sewing machine you choose is backed by a solid warranty. This shows that the manufacturer has confidence in the product and you have peace of mind that you’re covered if something goes wrong. Every machine on our list has a great warranty to ensure that it will work well for years to come.

This will depend on the machine. As we’ve discussed above there are more costly monogramming machines that tend to have more designs and stitches, but if you are on a more modest budget, there are also machines to suit your needs.

If you’re looking for an easy to use, budget machine, the Brother DZ3000 is a great option. This machine has decent features and the versatility to allow you to complete beginner projects and will support you as you develop your skills.

Our Verdict

As we’ve discovered, there are some fantastic monogramming sewing machines on the market. From the great value Brother DZ3000 that is not only lightweight, but is easy to use to the premium Brother SE1900 that not only provides access to 240 stitches, but allows you to design your own, machines are available with features to support beginners through to more experienced crafters.

However, the stand out as the best sewing machine for monogramming has to be our editor’s choice, the Brother LB5000M Marvel Edition is intuitive to use and has 80 built in designs and 103 stitches. You can even preview your edits on the color touchscreen display, so you can quickly find yourself monogramming everything around your home.

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